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No. 620,055. Patented Feb. 2!, I899.

F. J. ROBIN-SON & J. H. DOWNARD.

BOX FASTENER.

(A ucaeion' med Dec. 11, 1896.), (No Model.)

M 54 9 Jltoivmy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. ROBINSON AND JOHN H. DOWNARD, OF OOURTOIS, MISSOURI; SAID DOWVNARD ASSIGNOR TO SAID ROBINSON.

BOX-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,055, dated February 21, 1899. Application filed December 11, 1896. Serial No. 615,420. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK J. ROBINSON and JOHN H. DOWNARD, citizens of the United States, residing at Oourtois, in the county of Washington and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Lid Fasteners; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to box-lid fasteners; and the object in view is to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient spring-fastener which is adapted especially for use upon egg-crates and similar articles, but which, as will be made apparent in the course of the ensuing description, may be applied at various points and to various uses which will suggest themselves to the mind. I

The invention consists in a fastening device embodying certain novel features and details of construction as hereinafter described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,.Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showingapair of the improved fasteners applied to the lid of abox. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section showing a single fastener with the contiguous portions of the box and lid also in section. Fig. 3is a detail perspective view of one of the fasteners.

Similar letters and numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a box, and B the lid thereof, with the improved fastener applied thereto.

Instead of hinging the lid at one edge and providing a fastener at the opposing edge of the lid it is preferred to make the lid detachable from the box and to provide a pair of fasteners at the opposite edges of the box, thus doing away with the necessity for hinges.

The main body of the device (indicated at 1) is composed of a piece of strap metal bent into L shape, as shown, one portion of the strap being perforated to receive one or more fasteners 2, by means of which the device may be secured to the lid. The other arm passes down through an aperture 3 in the lid and extends a considerable distance below the bottom surface thereof, terminating atits lower end in an eye 4.

5 designates a catch, which at one end is provided with spaced eyes 6, which straddle the eye 4:, above referred to, a pivot 7 being passed through the several eyes and forming the hinge upon which the catch-plate rocks. The plate 5 is provided at its upper free edge with a narrow extension 8, which projects at an acute angle thereto and extends through an opening 9 in the strap 1, being provided upon the opposite side of said strap with a head 10 for limiting the outward movement of the catch-plate. Between the plate 5 and the body 1 of the fasteningis interposed aleafspring 11, one end of which is secured to one of said parts and the free end adapted to bear against the opposing part for giving the catch-plate a normal tendency away from the body or strap 1.

The catch above described may be employed in connection with any suitable form of keeper applied to the box; but for'convenience the keeper is shown as being formed out of one of the usual cleats 12, applied to the outer surface and near the top edge of the box. A mortise 13 is cut in the inner face of the cleat 12 to provide for the downward passage of the depending portion of the springcatch, and said cleat is also cut away, as indicated at 14:, to form a' finger-notch, into which the operators finger may be introduced for pressing the catch-plate toward the body 1 of the fastener, the upper wall 15 of said cut-away portion constituting a stop-shoulder for engaging the free end of said catch. A notch 16 is also cut in the outer surface of the box proper to make room for the head 10 in the upward and downward movement of the fastening device.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the lid is applied to the box the catches will automatically spring into engagement with the cleats 12 and prevent the displacement of the lid except as said catches are manipulated in the manner above explained. This enables the lid to be entirely detached from the box and be placed at one side thereof, thus saving valuable space which a catch-plate pivotally connected thereto and provided at its free end with a reduced or narrowed portion which passes through the opening in the body portion and is headed as described to prevent its withdrawal, and a spring interposed between said catch-plate and body for giving said plate a normal tendency away from the body, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK J. ROBINSON. JOHN H. DOWNARD.

Witnesses:

J. F. MIDYETT, MADELINE MIDYETT. 

